Alchemists of Barbal [Hardcover]

David Clement-Davies (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 20, 2005

The high stone walls of Barbal encircle a deep rift. At the heart of the city, the Lord Alchemist, Mardak the Dark, reigns supreme. His pursuit of power has led the tyrannical ruler to treacherous deeds: seizing the opposing alchemist, Ogog, and holding him hostage in the Ziggurat. However, help is at hand in the shape of a young boy called Silas. Under the guidance of his charismatic mentor, Sultan Ash, Silas sets off for Barbal to free Ogog, armed with nothing more than sheer determination - and a pure white pebble in his pocket. Unbeknown to Silas, the pebble is a Turnstone, a talisman bestowed with magical powers. In Barbal, Mardak's wild obsession has culminated in the construction of the Entropoth, a deadly time machine powered by human souls displaying events happening in the past and future. Mardak may know Silas is on his way - but will he be a match for the Turnstone?

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

David Clement-Davies lives in London, and works as a writer and travel journalist. He has two other novels published by Macmillan Children's Books, FIRE BRINGER and THE SIGHT.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Macmillan Children's Books (May 20, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1405000031
• ISBN-13: 978-1405000031
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,534,390 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars how awful, September 2, 2005

By 

Kooljobs - See all my reviews

This review is from: Alchemists of Barbal (Paperback)

I have read both The Sight and Firebringer 3 different times. Due to them, David Clement-Davies has become my favorite author. After waiting 2 years for him to write another book, he came out with this one. I was very eager to read it. I ordered it, and read it right when it came in. The book however simply was awful. It had all the makings of a typical childish novel. Gone were the mature ideas found in his other 2 novels. Gone also was the book about a society of animals. Perhaps the only likeness this book had to the other 2, other than having the same author, was the inclusion of a prophecy. Even this wasn't really stuck to. Overall, I found this book to be a major disapointment.